Now that spring has rolled around, you might have noticed that frogs and toads have begun to stir – they certainly have around Wilderness Wood! If you’re lucky you will see them hopping out of hibernation and heading to breeding pools to mate. But how do you tell the difference between a frog and a toad? While both frogs and toads might look very similar at first glance, there are a number of key differences between the two species.
How to tell the difference between a Frog and a Toad
- Skin – If you’ve noticed one of these amphibians making it’s way along the pavement or through some grass, then the chances are that it’s a toad. Toads are able to cope much better in dry conditions than frogs, as their skin is far more waterproof. Frogs lose moisture in their skin very easily, and are therefore rarely seen very far away from a water source. This is why a frog will almost always look moist.
- Legs – Frogs have much longer legs than toads. Their legs are far longer than their head and body, as they are designed for hopping. Toads have much shorter legs and prefer to crawl around instead of hop.
- Shape – Frogs tend to look supple and athletic-looking, whereas toads tend to be stocky and dumpy. They have different-shaped faces too. Frogs have much more pointed noses than toads.
- Spawn – Frog spawn and toad spawn are also quite different. Frog spawn tends to be laid in gooey clumps, whereas toad spawn is laid in stringy lengths.
- Tadpoles – Just like the adult version of frogs and toads, frog tadpoles are slim, whereas toad tadpoles are more chunky – especially around the tale. Frog tadpoles tend to have gold colour flecks on them too, whereas toad tadpoles are plain black in colour.
So if you’re out and about this spring and are lucky enough to spot a frog or toad going about it’s daily business, hopefully armed with this information you’ll be able to tell what you’ve just seen and impress others without your knowledge of amphibians.